The U.S. gift card market hit $188.8 billion by 2022 and will continue to thrive in 2024. Despite some challenges, demand remains strong, showcasing the lasting appeal of gift cards.
Vanilla Visa gift cards are a top pick for special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. More than just a gift, they give you the freedom to shop anywhere Visa is accepted, whether online or in person, across the U.S.
If you’re holding onto a Vanilla gift card and wondering, “Can I add my Vanilla gift card to Cash app?”—I get it, it would be super convenient. Unfortunately, there’s no way to link a Vanilla Visa gift card directly to Cash App right now. I know, it’s a bit of a letdown, but hopefully, they’ll add this feature soon!
So, if you’re set on getting your Vanilla gift card cash into Cash App, you might need to try a few workarounds. It’s not a straightforward process, but with a little effort, you can still make it happen!
Methods to Add Vanilla Gift Card to Cash App
1. Get Vanilla Gift Card Funds To Cash App Using Paypal
One way to move your Vanilla Visa gift card balance into Cash App is by using your PayPal account. The first step is to convert the gift card into cash by linking it to PayPal. After you do that, you can transfer the funds to your linked bank account, making them accessible in the Cash App. It’s a bit of a process, but it works!
After that, you can easily add the money to Cash App from your bank account. So, it’s a bit of a three-step process, but it’s totally doable!
- Log in to your PayPal account.
- Go to the Wallet section. (Paypal > pay & get paid > select banks and cards)
- Under Credit and Debit Cards, click on “Link a card”.
- Enter the details of your Vanilla Visa gift card, including the card number, expiration date, and security code (CVV).
- Select card type as Visa.
- Click “Link Card” to add the Vanilla Visa card to your PayPal account.
- PayPal will attempt to verify the card details and link it to your Wallet.
- Paypal may charge your card a couple of $ that will be refunded; which is primarily for verification purposes.
- After you link the gift card, you can use the digital wallet to access it.
Once you’ve linked your gift card to PayPal, you’ll be able to access it right from your PayPal digital wallet.
From there, you can try withdrawing the funds to your bank account—just keep in mind that it depends on whether Vanilla approves it. If it doesn’t work out, you can try another option that we’ll be discussing shortly. Also, there might be some fees for transferring the money to your bank.
Once the money’s in your bank account, connect your bank to Cash App. With your bank linked, you’ll be then able to move the funds over to Cash App and start using them right away!
2. Send and Recieve Gift Card Funds Via PayPal
The process is straightforward up to the point of connecting your Vanilla gift card. If you can’t transfer the money to your bank account, you can send the balance to a trusted friend or family member, and they can send it back to you.
- After linking the card, click on the blue Send button.
- Make sure the gift card is selected as the payment method when you are filling in the amount.
- As PayPal will charge you a fee, you might need to play around a bit with the sending amount to ensure the total amount (combined with the charge) does not exceed the gift card balance.
After sending the money, ask your friend or family member to return it to your PayPal. When they do, the funds will go straight to your PayPal balance, not back to the gift card.
From there, you can transfer the balance to your bank account, or if you have auto-transfer set up, PayPal will handle it for you. Transfers usually take 3-5 business days, though I often see mine complete within 24-48 hours.
Once the funds are in your bank account, you can withdraw the cash from a local ATM and load it as paper money into Cash App at a nearby retailer, or simply transfer it directly from your linked bank account into Cash App.
3. Sell Gift Card
You can sell Vanilla gift cards and turn them into cash. There are a couple of platforms that let you sell your card and in exchange you can get cryptocurrency and USD. Prestmit is one such platform that pays you in Bitcoin.
You can then supply a Bitcoin address from the Cash App to receive the corresponding amount within your Cash App account.
To find your Bitcoin address, open Cash App > on the homepage tap on Bitcoin > scroll down a bit and you should get the Deposit Bitcoin feature.
You can also try a mobile app called Quchange. It helps you swap your Vanilla gift card for cash. GiftDeal is another site where you can sell your gift card.
To exchange your Vanilla gift card for cash using Quchange, download the Quchange app from either Google Play or the App Store and sign up for an account. Once you are logged in, locate the Vanilla gift card option within the app and specify whether it’s an e-code or a physical card.
Input the card’s values and provide a clear picture of the card with the code visible. Then proceed by clicking on the “Sell” option to initiate the exchange process. After the card is processed, you’ll have the option to request a withdrawal in your preferred currency.
You can get more information about this app and their vanilla gift card exchange.
